Doggystyle (2023), film review

Doggy Style Review: From a drama about a beaten and abandoned dog, the film from producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller becomes an alternative road movie, extremely foul and obscene, but maintaining a noble and sincere heart.

Like an episode from Family man or de The Simpsons, the precision of writing begins with one preposition and ends directly with another, almost the opposite. A matter of storytelling, changing perspectives, application and development. So when was it announced Like a dog (a much more ambiguous name compared to the original one, i.e. Strays), while the distribution indicates that it was produced “from the same people as Ted and Cocainorso”we were overcome by doubt: Ted this is a masterpiece (no hyperbole), and Cocaineber instead it is a bitter disappointment. No half measures. There are no half measures in the film by Josh Greenbaum, written by Dan Perrault: everything is excessive, everything is vulgar, all intentionally cheesy, on a rambling and bizarre journey starring four irresistible talking dogs. Seeing this, however, I breathed a sigh of relief: this is much better than we could have imagined (bug Cocaineber was removed!).

Like a dogwhich received a brilliant subtitle These good guysliterally imitates dog movies of the nineties (primarily Running on all fours, the cult film by Duane Dunham), exaggerating in increasing obscenity and outright stupidity. However, be careful: not everything that seems stupid is actually stupid. Against. For swearing and dog swearing (VM rating 14), Like a dog retains an almost tragic overtone, dramatic in its accents. We talk about abandonment, toxic relationships, mistreatment, loneliness. A very suspenseful and dramatic beginning then morphed into a mean-spirited alternative road movie, not much fun, but definitely fun and enjoyable in its vulgar exasperation. Therefore, in his misunderstanding of comedy, a film made, among other things, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller maintains a bubbling enthusiasm consistent with purpose and history. That would be enough.

Doggy style, plot: traveling with Reggie

A story that, as already mentioned, begins with one of the most despicable, cowardly and shameful gestures that could ever be: Narrow-minded Doug (Will Forte), drunk and hot-tempered, tries every possible way to get rid of Reggie, a very cute border terrier taken from his ex-girlfriend. Reggie is neglected, but despite this, he develops affection for his ignoble master. An irritated man takes him away for three hours, leaving him in the middle of an alley. The little dog doesn’t quite understand what happened (and yes, your heart skips a beat) after finding himself lost in the city. At least until he meets the frustrated and rude Bug, a Boston Terrier who is living the life of a homeless man to the fullest.

They are also joined by smart Maggie, an Australian shepherd, and Hunter, an insecure Great Dane who provides therapy to cancer patients (something worth considering). A menacing quartet and a growing awareness (okay, unwanted verb…) Reggie: Doug is not the loving master he thought he was. We need to make him pay, we need revenge. How? Tearing it off “biting balls”. The quartet will travel backwards, following tracks and scents, meeting strange characters, riding (…) adventures (and more), releasing the brakes and reflecting philosophically on human behavior.

Bad tongue and big heart

We wrote at the beginning of the review: “Doggy style” is not subtle and moves from one mood to another, alternating bright jokes and strange jokesnot caring about correctness and composure, and squeezing hands (or rather paws) in a consistent sequence sculpture (it’s worth watching a movie about hallucinogenic mushrooms). Meanwhile, Dan Perrault (author of the excellent Netflix mockumentary) American Vandal) accuses of dysfunctional revenge movie, crazy in its concept and detailed in the basic traits of the four main dogs. This journey, purifying and decisive, is the value of friendship, there is a feeling of pure love, which is explained by dogs who reject any superstructure, showing themselves as they are.

The film loads and loads us: little by little we wait for the finale, we can’t wait for Reggie’s revenge to fall on Doug’s private parts for a showdown, we guarantee it, explosive and exciting, accompanied by – think a little – from Wrecking ball from Miley Cyrus. In its genre, Doggy Style is a film that works.minus excesses and minus tell jokes at any cost, which can cause the film to lose a certain spontaneity or a certain naturalness (not to mention the Italian dubbing, which causes it to lose slang and intonation). You never laugh until you cry (but laughter is subjective), rather you smile good-naturedly, oscillating between amusement and disbelief. In the end, Like a dog it should be understood as if it were a fairy tale. Foul language, intemperate and obscene story; a fairy tale for adults, for those who believe in divine justice, and for those who love dogs. Because yes, they demonstrate once again that they have a big heart. Like a quirky (and unexpectedly enjoyable) film by Josh Greenbaum.